KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – Most Vincentians know him as goalkeeper for the St. Vincent Under-17 national soccer team.
However, McZiggy Richards, 17, is also throwing his weight around in wresting in the United States.
A Jan. 6 report in the New York Post says that while Richards’ switch to wrestling for Wingate as a sophomore two years ago was unbelievable, he immediately won state titles in freestyle and Greco-Roman versions of the sport.
“It’s freakish. He was literally wrestling four months, five months and then won a state title, which is very impressive. That doesn’t happen usually,” Wingate coach Steve Flanagan told the New York Post.
While the 6-foot-2-inch, 182-pound Richards has grown to love wrestling, his parent do not share the same sentiments.
They’re worried about injuries and his grandparents want him to focus on soccer, the New York Post said.
Richards was also not sold on the wrestling at first, especially since it varies so much from what was broadcast on television.
“I was like what the hell is this?” I thought it was WWE at first,” he told the North American publication of his reaction when he first walked into the training room.
Richards has since grown to love the sport and the New York Post says that last year he won a match at states last year and this season he’s a favourite.
He also was a Public Schools Athletic League city champ in 2011 and won the Mayor’s Cup. This season, Richards has already dominated in top-notch Long Island tournaments at Baldwin, North Babylon and Long Beach, according to the New York Post.